Flights headed to or leaving Islamabad between March 12-22 have been revised as Pakistan Airforce jets begin rehearsal for Pakistan Day parade, according to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Passengers are advised to confirm the revised flight timings beforehand in order to “avoid any inconvenience” since Islamabad’s airspace will remain closed from 8am-12:40pm and 2:30-4pm for the next 10 days which would disturb flight schedule.

Pakistan Day commemorates the passing of the Lahore Resolution on March 23, 1940, when the All-India Muslim League demanded a separate nation for the Muslims of the British Indian Empire.

Pakistan joint military parade is the highlight of the March 3 celebration when troops display nuclear-capable weapons, tanks, jets, drones and other weapons systems as a way of showcasing the strength of the armed forces.

Last year, for the first time, troops from China and Saudi Arabia had also featured at the 23 March 2017 event.

A historic Turkish military band had also played national anthems in their first performance at the annual event.

The Pakistan Day parade had resumed in 2015 after a gap of seven years and was seen as a manifestation of the military’s show of strength in the wake of a shocking attack in 2014 on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar, which left 150 dead, including 132 schoolchildren.